THE WOODCOCK. 227 



WHERE TO FIND COCKS. 



" Startled by the report, a woodcock springs 

 From the low marsh, flitting with nimble wings : 

 In vain he flies ; he feels the fatal lead, 

 Curves flapping down, and falls with pinions spread." 



These birds, as before observed, delight in a wet, loamy soil, 

 and are seldom or never found in the upland districts, but most 

 frequently locate themselves along the marshy willow and alder- 

 borders and extensive flats of our rivers. They also secrete them- 

 selves in the dense thickets of underbrush along the margins of 

 smaller streams, or hide themselves in the rank grass and luxu- 

 riant fern of our wet meadow-lands. In fact, wherever there is 

 good boring-ground and a certain degree of seclusion, there will 

 be found woodcocks in the month of July, many or few, according 

 to the nature of the soil and the favorable or unfavorable state of 

 the breeding season. 



When there has been a long continuance of dry weather, it is 

 quite useless to examine light and open coverts or sparse woods 

 in quest of cocks, as at such times they will be found either on 

 the open wet bottoms, if such spots can then be met with, or more 

 likely in the deep, impermeable thickets and entangled brakes, 

 where the ground seldom or never entirely loses its moisture. On 

 the other hand, when the weather has been extremely wet for 

 some days, woodcocks will betake themselves to the hill-sides or 

 elevated grounds, as they are not by any means partial to too 

 much water, although a certain degree of moisture is absolutely 

 necessary for their very existence. When the weather begins to 

 get cool, they may also be found in the open woody glens or clear- 

 ings, enjoying, as it were, the mild warmth of the autumn sun, as 

 the feeble rays from time to time pierce the sparse foliage of the 

 overhanging trees, or actively engaged boring in the mossy banks 

 of the warm rills which so often spring up from such sheltered situa- 

 tions. In sections of the country where these birds resort, we 

 can scarcely visit a spot of this kind early in October without 



